Compare towns
Canaan vs Alstead vs Beecher Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most kids (15.8% under 18).
Alstead has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Beecher Falls has the most affordable homes ($98k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Canaan | Alstead | Beecher Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 810 |
1,551Highest |
67Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 53.2±4.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
56±3.3 44% above U.S. |
57.5±2.6Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Beecher Falls and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
9%±40.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.5%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±43.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Beecher Falls and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0%±21.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,606±$4k 31% below U.S. |
$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S. |
$26,042±$24kLowest 68% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $201,900±$46k 39% below U.S. |
$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$98,100±$36kLowest 71% below U.S. |
| Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,389 9% above U.S. |
$5,322Highest 71% above U.S. |
$2,438Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
— |
| Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
100%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
— |
| Work from home | 15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
0%±27.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Canaan School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Canaan High School CTE Program | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.